Sept. 14–15, S.C. and N.C.: a meandering Hurricane Ophelia never made landfall, but dumped up to 18 in of rain from Myrtle Beach, S.C. to Wilmington, N.C. One person died in Florida.

Sept. 20, Fla. Keys: Hurricane Rita dumped heavy rains on the Florida Keys and then headed west towards Texas, gaining strength over the Gulf of Mexico.

Sept. 24–25, Gulf Coast, Tex., La.: Rita intensified over the Gulf of Mexico, then made landfall at Sabine Pass, along the Texas-Louisiana border, as a Category 3 hurricane. Over 3 million people evacuated the Houston and Galveston area causing horrendous traffic jams. A bus carrying people from a nursing home, caught fire, killing 23 people. Strong storm surges and heavy winds caused major damage in the Louisiana and Texas coastal areas. Heavy rains also drenched New Orleans, causing the Industrial Canal levee to breach, re-flooding parts the 9th ward of the city. Damages estimated at $8 billion and related deaths at 119.